DEATRICE BARNES
Fort Pierce

Ailing mom, baby, struggling family seek ray of sunshine

Lil Niyh seems the typical newborn — robust, alert, a full head of hair. But the cables trailing from under her tiny gown and the tube in her nose testify that all is not right.
Lil Niyh is in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Miami Children’s Hospital, and once every two weeks, her mother, Deatrice Barnes, makes the long trip from Fort Pierce. First she drives to West Palm Beach, then takes Tri-Rail and Metro buses into Coral Gables.
“I noticed when they brought her to me that there was something wrong,” said Deatrice, who delivered Lil Niyh two weeks early. “The doctor told me if she had gone two more weeks, she wouldn’t have made it.”
The baby had low blood sugar and hypertension of the lungs. She had trouble breathing and couldn’t take food orally. Lil Niyh was moved first to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital at St. Mary’s Medical Center for 10 days and then to Miami. She’s improving but remains in intensive care.
To complicate matters, Deatrice developed gestational diabetes. During the Caesarean delivery, her abdomen was torn. Her mother died recently, her father has cancer and she has two teenage daughters at home.
“Quantum House has really eased things for me,” said Deatrice, a St. Lucie County Schools bus driver for 12 years.
Quantum House provides temporary housing for families of children with serious medical conditions. Located on the St. Mary’s campus, it serves families in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee and Indian River counties. Quantum House staffers drive Deatrice to and from the Tri-Rail station, and in Miami she stays at Berkshire Apartments, a similar program.
On a recent visit, Deatrice took along her older daughters, Quanuthia, 16, and Wyeashia, 14. Because of school, they hadn’t seen their sister since the day she was born. In the ICU, they clustered around their sister, laughing, nuzzling her, extending fingers for the little one to clasp with her tiny hand.
“She’s so strong,” Wyeashia said.
“I’m just so happy to see her,” said Quanuthia. “It’s been so long.”
For Deatrice, there’s much work ahead, but she remains optimistic.
“I hits me at night a lot, and when I have to leave from the hospital,” she said. “But because I have a strong Christian background and have family support, we will be all right.”

Deatrice Barnes’ wishes

What she asked for: Their house needs paint. They need furniture for the living room, bedrooms and nursery, and kitchen goods.
What she received: Their list was totally fulfilled, plus Deatrice’s teenagers received bedroom makeovers and got to pick the styles they wanted. Her bus-driver co-workers painted her house.
What she says: After her daughters received recent first-ever manicures and pedicures, Deatrice said, through tears, “Knowing that they are so happy makes me so happy.”

Nominated by: Quantum House
Address: 901 45th St., West Palm Beach, FL 33407
Phone: (561) 494-0515
Its mission: To provide a caring place to call home for families while their children are being treated for serious medical conditions at the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital at St. Mary’s Medical Center.